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Coronavirus in Oklahoma: Workers comp commission shutting down two days

The Oklahoma Workers' Compensation Commission is shutting down its offices for two days because employees in Oklahoma City may have been exposed to the new coronavirus.

Also, no injured workers' cases will be heard at all by the commission this week.

The commission is an administrative system created by a 2013 reform law to replace the Workers' Compensation Court. Both commission offices — in Oklahoma City and Tulsa — will be closed Monday and Tuesday.

The decision to shut down came Sunday night after a workers compensation attorney who had been at the Denver Davison Building last week reportedly tested positive for the new coronavirus. The attorney's wife was the first person from Oklahoma County to test positive for COVID-19, The Oklahoman was told.

Employees at the Oklahoma Workers' Compensation Commission and the Oklahoma Workers' Compensation Court of Existing Claims were warned Saturday to "use appropriate caution" because of the potential exposure.

"Watch for symptoms and limit your exposure to others when at all possible," officials said in an email.

The Court of Existing Claims, which oversees older cases, also was expected to close.

Nolan Clay

Nolan Clay was born in Oklahoma and has worked as a reporter for The Oklahoman since 1985. He covered the Oklahoma City bombing trials and witnessed bomber Tim McVeigh's execution. His investigative reports have brought down public officials,...
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